Page 16 - SMITE Official Magazine Issue 20

FICTION

meet him. He awoke with a start to a quiet, dark weighted with the leaden tones of the dead.

house, coated with the thick chill of winter. “This can’t be!” Apollo cried out, but he knew

Spooked, *too* spooked, Apollo rose it was. “What image haunts my presence this

and relocated to the gloomy den, where he night, what foul illusion stirs me from sleep?”

made a small fire to burn away the last of the “It’s your boy, Mercury!” Mercury spun

nightmares. It warmed him, but the deepening in place, giving Apollo a good look.

shadows it cast stretched and twisted awfully “I say again that I refuse to believe this!”

as he watched. Shuddering, Apollo looked “Your loss, pal,” Merc said, “but

away, lest the nightmare prove true... but the I’m here. And I’m here to help.”

flickering gloom kept drawing his eye. Apollo’s face sank as he set upon the truth of

He realized he was staring at the door, just as he the matter. Surely his old partner stood before him,

caught the edge of the chill outside. As he watched as he had everyday before his ignominious death.

the darkness surrounding him deepen, Apollo felt “To help me? Well, surely a friend from

a deep and growing unease spread throughout his beyond the grave is a true friend.”

old bones. Distant voices called out with words he “You’re right there, Apollo,” Mercury

couldn’t understand; bells tolled resonantly outside, replied, “because I’m here to give you a

though there was no reason. And a mist seeped in second chance. One I feel you deserve.”

through the cracks around the heavy oaken door. “But a second chance at what?”

There was a sudden chill, and then a thunderous “A second chance to live your the life the

explosion of sound as a huge streak of white appeared way you’re supposed to, Apollo... the way

and enveloped Apollo completely. He cried out as I never did. A second chance to leave your

the pale blur filled his vision and swirled around current course... and change your fate.”

him, but it was gone in an instant, the light of the fire “But what fate? And how?”

with it. His breathing ragged, Apollo worked at the “You will be visited by the ghosts of three

dim embers of the fire, and managed to stoke them gods, Apollo. And only with their help can

back to life, bringing the warmth and light he craved you avoid this, avoid ending up like me.”

back into the room. And then he felt more than saw With one last wave of his arms, gesturing to the

the presence that had passed him by completely. ghostly chains that bound him to this world, weighted

He turned, and saw the spectre of Mercury down by his own greed, he turned and began to

there, casually leaning against the far wall, his fade away. In his place, for just a moment, Apollo

once resplendent armor now white and ethereal. glimpsed his own potential future, an eternity in a

Chains wrapped around him, looped his body and dark room filled with such haunted figures, each

hung free with notched swords and hammers, shackled to his or her crimes, to regret them forever.

boots, and an ancient mask, all treasures from his Without another word Apollo departed

mortal life. He smirked underneath his helmet as for his bed and went to sleep instantly. ■

if reading Apollo’s horrified mind, for he had come

to realize that this was, indeed, his old partner. By Devon Boyette

“Made you look,” Mercury said, his voice The GameOn Magazine

16 The Official SMITE Magazine Issue #20